Skin Graft

Hi KDaz,

I'm sorry to hear about the bleeding. Happened to me, too. It is fantastic to have the WLE done though because now you are on your way to recovery! So much to look forward to!

From memory, it was a couple of months before I got rid of the crutches and walked slightly awkwardly on the bad foot without too much burning / electrical shock feeling. My WLE was in mid-Aug. By Dec I was already going happily on my country walks (with more rest breaks than usual but hey, I was just happy to be out and about again). You will absolutely get there!!

As soon as the graft has "taken", you may want to ask your specialist nurse to refer you to physio. They will give you exercises you can do at home to help you with the healing. 

Good luck on Thursday.

I have not experienced a lot of pain i could walk after surgery  but not properly still can't walk probably its been nearly 5 weeks for me graft is still healing and  still got dressing on doner site. A bit of graft died so its taking longer to heal and still bleeds a little. Still looks fragile I can shower now but not on doner site so its only half body shower. Got check up on Friday. Can't go back to work until its all healed probably going to be another month. Waiting on slnb results. Its annoying not being able to do much I did not realise recovery was so long.

Hi metastasis so when was you able to go back to work if you work. I had mine done in mine done 5 weeks ago so its a lot longer recovery then I thought.

Hi Miss mole,

I was able to work from home with my leg up on a second chair, so I was able to work after 2 weeks. I don't think I would've been able to do anything that required good mobility for a good month or so. It was definitely a longer recovery than I expected because I also had part of the graft not "taking". Hang in there. Every day is closer to the finish line!

Hi thanks for reply. My jobs on feet all day so I think another month yet. How did yours heal with the bit not taken. Mine has a bit of fluid come out of it know again.

Thank you. All over me now and just awaiting the results in 4/5 weeks. Skin graft sore but manageable 

Hi,

Yeah, I would imagine it is challenging to be on your feet all day at this stage. But soon this will be behind you. 

My grafted site was definitely "weepy" and leaking clear fluid for a while. It's a tricky location because it's so easy to stretch it and tear the new, fragile skin. I just took the weepiness as a sign that my body was sending some immune cells around to fix everything. 

How are you keeping busy or distracted while you are off work?

Watching netflix i have a couple off hobbies too also popping into work tomorrow to give doctors note to my manager.

Hi again how long did your doner site take to heal

Hi Miss Mole,

I had a split thickness graft. The donor site healed after around a month. The skin was still fragile in that area but it was no longer "open" and I could gently wash it in the shower. 

Was yours a full or split thickness one?